Analysis & Symbols
These three figures—6/5, 4/3, and 4/2—represent the three possible inversions of this chord type.
What is a Seventh Chord?
In four-part writing, it is generally "good" to keep individual voices moving in this way rather than using large leaps.
What is small or stepwise movement?
In Sonata Form, the second theme returns in this key during the Recapitulation.
What is the Tonic / Home key?
These are the four primary clefs used in music theory, ranging from high to low.
What are Treble, Bass, Alto, and Tenor?
Highly ornate melodies and "basso continuo" define the Baroque, while balanced phrases and clear structures define this later period.
What is the Classical period?
In jazz notation, a triangle symbol (Δ) is used to denote this specific seventh chord quality.
What is Major 7th / MM7?
These are the two specific intervals that you must never move in parallel when writing for four voices.
What are Perfect 5ths and Octaves?
This popular 32-bar form is shared by The Flintstones theme and George Gershwin's "I've Got Rhythm."
What is AABA form?
This specific minor scale is identical to the natural minor, except for a raised 7th scale degree.
What is Harmonic Minor?
This term simply means "keyboard" and was used to describe various instruments like the harpsichord or clavichord.
What is a Clavier?
This is the figured bass shorthand used for a triad in second inversion.
What is 6/4?
This error occurs when a lower voice (like the Tenor) sings a pitch higher than an upper voice (like the Alto).
What is voice-crossing?
In a Fugue exposition, the first voice presents the subject in the tonic, while the second voice presents this in the dominant key.
What is the Answer?
If C4 (Middle C) is MIDI note 60, then A4 (440Hz) is this MIDI note number.
What is 69?
These are the two primary objects used for real-time pitch tracking in Max/MSP.
What are fiddle~ and sigmund~?
While both have a diminished triad at the base, the half-diminished 7th has a minor 7th on top, while the fully-diminished has this interval.
What is a diminished 7th?
This two-voice movement occurs when one voice remains on a single pitch while the other voice moves.
What is Oblique motion?
Playing a motif perfectly backwards is called Retrograde, while flipping the intervals upside down is called this.
What is Inversion?
This mode is functionally identical to the natural minor scale.
What is the Aeolian mode?
This modern tuning system is used so that instruments can play in any key without sounding out of tune.
What is Equal-Temperament?
Moving "Up a 4th" or "Up a 2nd" (like in a deceptive cadence) are examples of this type of chord progression.
What are Strong or Stable progressions?
When writing a triad in four parts, this is usually the most "correct" or standard note of the chord to double.
What is the Root?
This popular American musical form is built on a specific repeating harmonic cycle, usually over 12 measures.
What is Blues Form?
This complex texture occurs when two or more voices perform the same basic melody but with slight individual variations.
What is Heterophony?
In Max/MSP, the order in which data or audio moves from the output of one object to the input of another is called this.
What is Signal Flow?